Sampler
EmbroidererEmbroidered by
Ann Elizabeth Skinner
(American, 1821 - 1885)
Date1833
MediumEmbroidery; silk threads on a plain-woven, undyed linen ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 13 3/16 x 17 15/16in. (33.5 x 45.6cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Mary F. Lord and Katherine L. Lord
Object number1938.24.139
DescriptionSampler worked in medium green, salmon, pink, dark blue, brick red, light blue, yellow, light brown, and dark brown silk threads on a plain-woven linen ground using cross and other stitches. The sampler is rectangular, oriented horizontally. It is laid out with four rows of three alphabets, over two inscriptions positioned side by side, over a horizontal band of pictorial motifs and an inscription, an inscription flanked by mirror images of pictorial motifs, over an inscription and the numbers 1 through 13. The first inscription is "When youth's fair season shall be o'er/ And scenes of childhood charm no more/ My grateful heart with joy shall see/ This proof of youthful industry". The second inscription is "As memory o'er this task shall wake/ And retrospective pleasure take/ How shall I wish but wish in vain/ To enjoy youth's blissful hours again". The third inscription is "Youth loves to deck times naked brow/ With a light crown of gilded snow/ But in a length of care girt years/The glittering bauble melts to tears/ Thus on a mist that veils a stream/ The rays of morning faintly gleam/ And blending shades of richest dyes/ In a soft glowing arch arise". The fourth inscription is "Ann Elizabeth Skinner's work AD 1833 Æ 12 years". The pictorial motitfs that flank the third inscription include a bird, a cherry or apple tree, and an urn of flowers; these are not embroidered to scale. There are other motifs and scroll designs throughout. Certain lines of alphabets, numbers, and text are separated by various narrow borders, including straight and meandering lines. There is a four-sided floral and vine border that curves each of the top corners. In the outside of each curved area are butterflies.
The sampler has a 1/8-inch double-turned hem on the top and bottom edges, and selvedges at the left and right side edges. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets and the numbers 1-13. The letters are lowercase block in alphabet 1, uppercase block in alphabet 2, and uppercase script in alphabet 3. The letter J is present in the first alphabet; the letter U is present in all alphabets.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch over two threads; it is also worked in cross stitch over one thread, four-sided, French knots, and queen stitches.
Condition: The sampler has minimal to light fading. It is not framed.
The sampler has a 1/8-inch double-turned hem on the top and bottom edges, and selvedges at the left and right side edges. The sampler is not framed.
Letters and Numbers: There are three alphabets and the numbers 1-13. The letters are lowercase block in alphabet 1, uppercase block in alphabet 2, and uppercase script in alphabet 3. The letter J is present in the first alphabet; the letter U is present in all alphabets.
Stitches: The principal stitch on the sampler is cross stitch over two threads; it is also worked in cross stitch over one thread, four-sided, French knots, and queen stitches.
Condition: The sampler has minimal to light fading. It is not framed.
Status
Not on view
